Glen Hope is a small borough, that lies between Bigler and Beccaria Townships, in the southern area of Clearfield County.
It covers a substantial land area, but has a small population. Nevertheless, a church, post office, gas station/store and a lumber business are located there.
Glen Hope is one of the older, and, therefore, historic settlements in Clearfield County, dating back two centuries. It lies on the intersection of the present Routes 53 and 729.
Both routes were once trails used by the First Nation/Native American peoples. Route 729 roughly followed a southerly path that connected the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, near Lumber City, to Janesville and the present Route 453 to Tyrone and the Little Juniata River.
The covered bridge shown in the photo was first erected in 1848, to serve as a crossing of Clearfield Creek, which was then becoming a main avenue to float lumber rafts and logs to market.  The town took part in Clearfield County’s early lumber boom of the middle and late 19th centuries.
Curwensville also once boasted a covered bridge and the historic and reinforced McGees Mills covered bridge still stands and is still used.
The wooden Glen Hope Bridge lasted an amazing 100 years until being dismantled and replaced with a modern structure in 1948.
